We Asked Brisbane’s Cake Queen What The Top Cake Trends Of 2026 Are
say it with cake
By Victoria Lewis | 14th January 2026Between milestone birthdays, anniversaries, intimate weddings, and well-deserved work promotions, 2026 is shaping up to be a year worth celebrating. And let’s be honest – no celebration is complete without cake. But this year, cakes aren’t just treats; they’re style statements.
There’s no sweeter way to mark a moment than with a cake that’s as beautiful as it is delicious. Enter Annie Loves Cakes, Brisbane’s go-to for bespoke, trend-setting creations. Her vintage-inspired, stylish cakes are made for every occasion, radiate main-character energy, and turn any celebration into an unforgettable moment.
Operating online from Yeronga, Annie creates some of Brisbane’s most Instagram-worthy cakes, each thoughtfully designed to match your occasion’s vibe. Everything is customisable – from colour and text to the filling – making every cake a perfect reflection of the celebration it marks.
So, what’s trending in 2o26? From romantic piping to playful text, here are the biggest cake trends for 2026, according to the queen of Brisbane’s cake scene.
1. Vintage piping & nostalgic details
Old-fashioned romance is back, and for cake, it’s all about vintage piping and feminine charm.
This year, piping is speaking the language of love – think scallops, ruffles, shells, and bows. Excessive, romantic, and entirely handmade, these frilly creations are peak nostalgia: the cakes you remember from old family photos, reimagined for today. A perfect example? This dreamy wedding cake by Annie Loves Cakes.
Piping isn’t about perfection; it’s about personality. “People love how expressive piping can be – you can say so much with texture and detail alone,” says Annie. Enchanting, nostalgic, and personal, vintage-style piping is a trend built to last.
2. Heart-shaped is the new classic
It’s love at first bite, with heart-shaped cakes making a statement. No longer just reserved for Valentine’s Day love letters, this sweetheart shape is going mainstream. Annie says everyone has a soft spot for them, with orders piling in for heart-shaped cakes for birthdays, engagements, hens, anniversaries, and even just-because celebrations. If you’re looking for a subtle way to show someone you care, heart cakes are now officially as classic as a round cake.
3. Soft, muted colour palettes
Bright colours aren’t the only love language of 2026, with pastel hues taking centre stage. Whether you go minimal with the design or pair with vintage piping for a more opulent look, soft, muted tones like cream, blush, sage, pale blue, and gentle yellow will be over everyones feeds this year.
In a world where everything ends up on Instagram, people are thinking more about how cakes fit into the overall setting. Will it match the table, the flowers, the outfit? A softer palette is the way to decorate a cake that works smarter, not harder, offering a cohesive celebratory set-up with ease. It’s less about making the cake shout, and more about letting it quietly belong in the moment.
4. Buttercream over fondant (texture is back)
Let texture do the talking. Recently, there’s been a shift away from the smooth finish of fondant icing toward buttercream, with textured designs taking center stage. People want cakes that look and feel handmade, and buttercream delivers in a way fondant never quite can. Plus, it just tastes better!
Annie says buttercream can do it all. “Once people realise buttercream can still be structured and detailed, they’re sold,” she explains.
5. Coquette details and soft bow motifs
Like with the revival of vintage piping, feminine details like piped bows, ribbons, and soft decorative touches add romantic charm without overwhelming the design. The hyper-feminine, Marie Antoinette-esque “coquette” aesthetic is everywhere right now in fashion, and has now made its way to baked goods.
So why has this trend taken off? Annie (who nails this trend) says, “I think part of the appeal is that these details feel gentle and expressive, not bold or structured. Bows pair beautifully with buttercream, pastel colours, and vintage piping, which is why they keep showing up together.”
6. Playful, personal messaging
Cake design is getting a total text takeover. From short phrases, inside jokes, cheeky comments, and personal messages – go for a cake that actually says something about them. It’s a move away from generic toppers and toward piped text that feels part of the design.
“I think people see cakes as another way to communicate now, not just something to cut and serve,” Annie says. A simple message can completely change the tone of a cake, making it funny, sentimental, or ultra bold. Unmistakably personal, these are the cakes that’ll get the group chat talking for years to come.
7. Styled, not themed
In 2026, it’s all vibes-based, even when it comes to cakes. There’s less interest in literal or character-based cakes and a bigger focus on overall mood. Instead of going for a specific theme, we are talking about colours, textures, and personal references being baked into the cake design.
Style your cake for the occasion; instead of imitating something exactly, think about recreating a feeling. When the cake, the outfit, and the table all speak the same language, everything feels considered and intentional – and that special someone will love it.
It’s dress to impress, cake included. Annie says more people are asking to create a cake around someone’s personal style. “Dresses come up a lot. The fabric, the silhouette, and even the era of a dress can influence the cake design.”
8. The berry on top!
Seen wedding cakes stacked with raspberries all over your feed? Get ready to see even more in 2026 – these little fruits are making a big impact.
A stack of raspberries can take any cake up a notch. Whether as an accent or the star of the show, they bring a pop of colour, a touch of personality, and a hint of zest to your creation. Raspberries instantly give cakes that fresh-from-the-kitchen feeling, even on the most intricate designs.
Annie’s take? “I love how natural raspberries are – slightly imperfect, juicy, and not overly styled.” Simple yet striking, raspberries can turn a cake from store-bought to showstopper – truly the berry on top!
9. Smaller statements for intimate settings
Instead of oversized centrepieces, this year cakes are making smaller statements, focusing on design and detail. As celebrations become more intimate, the cake should feel like a feature rather than a spectacle. Annie loves extravagant cakes as much as the next person, but the downsize effect allows her to “go all-in on piping, colour, or messaging without worrying about scale.”
It’s quality over quantity, a more intentional and less wasteful option to celebrate your occasion in the sweetest fashion. A beautifully designed small cake can feel just as special, if not more so, than a towering one.
If you’re as obsessed with these cake trends as we are, book a bespoke cake for your next special occasion with Annie Loves Cakes. From birthdays to graduation parties, hen’s nights to wedding cakes, Annie’s creations really take the cake. Discover your dream cake here.
Imagery: Supplied This article is sponsored by Annie Loves Cake and proudly endorsed by Style. We only promote businesses that we love and think our readers will love too!
